Apparatus for preparing food

Abstract

The present invention is concerned with an apparatus for preparing food ( 10 ), in particular baby food made from fresh vegetables or the like, the apparatus comprising a body ( 12 ) and heating means ( 32 ) adapted to heat and/or cook food placed within the body, preferably by steaming, the apparatus ( 20 ) also comprising a blending assembly ( 18 ) which is operable to blend food located within the body ( 12 ), preferably after said food has been cooked using the apparatus ( 10 ).

1. An apparatus for preparing food comprising
 a body within which food may be placed; 
 heating means in operative association with the body, such that food may be heated within the body; 
 drive means in operative association with the body; 
 a blending assembly locatable within the body, in operative association with the drive means, such that food may be blended within the body; 
 a perforated bowl removably locatable within the body, in which bowl food may be placed for heating; and 
 a container removably locatable within the body, the container being shaped and dimensioned to substantially receive the blending assembly therein, in order to allow food to be blended within the container, and in which container the perforated bowl may be substantially housed in order to allow the perforated bowl, the container, and the blending assembly to be simultaneously stored within the body. 
 
     
     
       2. An apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the body is adapted to receive water adjacent the heating means, for conversion to steam by the heating means, in order to allow food to be steamed within the body. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the body comprises a base within which the heating means is located, and a cylindrical sidewall extending from the base, such as to define an enclosure within which food may be placed for heating; blending. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus according to  claim 3  in which the cylindrical sidewall comprises an inner wall and a concentrically located outer wall defining a cavity therebetween. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus according  claim 1  comprising a top within which the drive means is located, the top being securable to the body. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus according to  claim 1  in which, when the perforated bowl is mounted within the body, a space exists between the perforated bowl and the base, for receiving water for conversion to steam. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the perforated bowl has an aperture therein through which the blending assembly may project. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the container is substantially cylindrical and has a single open end which is engageable about a rim of the perforated bowl in order to increase the effective volume of the perforated bowl. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus according to  claim 8  comprising a lid securable about the open end of the container, the lid having an aperture for the passage of the blending assembly, thereby allowing the lid to be secured to the container during blending. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the temperature of the heating means may be varied. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a lid and a top within which the drive means is located, in which the apparatus may be stored with the container within the body, the perforated bowl within the container, the blending assembly within the container and projecting through the perforated bowl, the lid mounted to the container and the top mounted to the body such as to enclose the container/bowl/blade assembly therein. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus for preparing food comprising
 a body within which food may be placed; 
 heating means in operative association with the body, such that food may be heated within the body; 
 drive means in operative association with the body; and 
 a blending assembly locatable within the body, in operative association with the drive means, such that food may be blended within the body; 
 a perforated bowl removably locatable within the body, in which bowl food may be placed for heating; 
 a substantially cylindrical container removably locatable within the body, the container being shaped and dimensioned to substantially receive the blending assembly therein, in order to allow food to be blended within the container, and in which container the perforated bowl may be substantially housed in order to allow the perforated bowl, the container, and the blending assembly to be simultaneously stored within the body, the container having a single open end that is engageable about a rim of the perforated bowl in order to increase the effective volume of the perforated bowl and 
 a lid securable about the open end of the container, the lid having an aperture for the passage of the blending assembly, thereby allowing the lid to be secured to the container during blending in which the lid comprises a panel displaceable between a position exposing the aperture, and a position occluding the aperture.